Former HM slams PM for not crediting Constitution for his achievements

Congress leader and former Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Thursday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not giving due credit to the Constitution and democratic system of the country for making it possible for a tea seller to become the Prime Minister.

Speaking at a book launch event here, Shinde said that "You have heard countless times how a tea seller became the Prime Minister. But please take note that our Prime Minister rarely gives credit to our democratic system or the Constitution that has made this possible."

Shinde said that he has always credited the Indian Constitution for whatever he has achieved in his life.

"Initially, I worked in Solapur district court and became the Home Minister of the country. I always maintained that whatever I have achieved in life, is because of our Constitution. Rather than glorifying myself,'' he said.

In November, former minister Congress MP Shashi Tharoor credited first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for creating institutional structures and said that "if today we have a chai wala as prime minister, it is because Nehru created the institutional structures through which any Indian can aspire to rise to the highest office of the land."

Following this comment, Prime Minister Modi attacked the Congress and said that the party never looks beyond the Nehru-Gandhi family and credited Nehru, not the people of the country for elevating a tea seller as a prime minister.